I really tried watching srugim, hoping against hope that at least this once a television show will attempt to depict the "other" part of Israeli society (the part that doesn't live between Tel Aviv and the airport), and was sorely disappointed. The characters all seem to be spoiled, sex-starved and hedonistic, basically "Sex in the City: South Jerusalem", (with very little sex). I realize that the show is intended to be about the affluent "dati-light" bourgeois crowd from East Talpiot-German Colony-Bakaa-Katamon and not actual normal religious Jerusalemites. But the whole premise seems to be to show how "normal" the datalim are while the standard for normality is the behavior of their Tel Aviv compatriots (the ones on television, not the ones in real life), and the result is a ridiculously typical Israeli twenty-something drama, except that for some reason the characters are wearing kippot and skirts.

There are basically two approaches to depicting religious Jews on Israeli television - the openly hostile approach or the apologetic and obsequious approach. Unfortunately srugim squanders the opportunity to provide something new in this regard.

Augh! Next time put a spoiler alert up - I'm still working my way through Season 1 (slowly - Hebrew not so good), and I had no idea that what'shername got married. The photo totally gives it away. Augh.

Alex: I realize that the show is intended to be about the affluent "dati-light" bourgeois crowd from East Talpiot-German Colony-Bakaa-Katamon and not actual normal religious Jerusalemites.

(1) Correction: You mean "not religious Jerusalemites of the sort with whom I am familiar". There are plenty of real people in the Jerusalem bitza similar to the characters depicted in the series.

(2) What do you mean by "affluent"? The only main character in the series (season 1, anyway) who could be accurately described as "affluent" is Reut. The rest are middle-class types who don't even have enough money to live alone in their own apartments.

Alex: There are basically two approaches to depicting religious Jews on Israeli television - the openly hostile approach or the apologetic and obsequious approach. Unfortunately srugim squanders the opportunity to provide something new in this regard.

I have a significantly different perspective on the nature of Srugim and the messages that it conveys. See this post that I wrote last year for details.

Wow, Yes! blocks those living in chul? Who knew? Do you know how many times I haven't gotten access to videos because I live in Israel?

Even if it is supposed to be "appointment" TV, I succumbed and watched it. Didn't love the episode, not sure why. ****SPOILER ALERT**** Don't get Nati...what, he couldn't tell Amir that his mother was DYING??? Her timing wasn't great, but I think Amir would have understood. And I missed Reut.

And how many couples do you think decide not to tell the Rav about their, uhm, special wedding night circumstances?

Russell -- Sorry, your link is to a "behind the scenes" documentary about Srugim; not the first episode of the new season. Also, as soon as I opened the link in my browser, my anti-virus program immediately popped up a warning that the site had just tried to upload a trojan virus onto myu computer. So I'd stay away from it.

Oh, and if I could add one more difference, Friends was as bland as the conventional good looks of its actors and had absolutely no sophistication. If you watch t.v. to look at the pretty people though, then I would stick with friends.

Saying that Srugim is just like Friends because they're both "about a group of young friends that live in proximity to each other", is similar to saying that Tolkien's Lord of the Rings is just like SpongeBob SquarePants, because they're both about a bunch of fantasy characters in a fictional land.

If you are Dati and watch this, you think..how silly, would this really happen (I do not think this was as good as the first series)

but then you think, if someone who is not religious is watching this, there are so many new concepts here. OK so they are not keeping all the rules, but even simple things like the bride sitting on a special chair, the bride and groom not meeting before the wedding and more, are new concepts for some of the viewers.

This episode's plot was very clever, I'm impressed. Think about it: In addition to the actual wedding, Hodaya may have had a "wedding night" the same night, and Nati entered a 7-day period just like sheva brachot. All the characters go though variations of the same event, but the variations are so so different from each other.

All the detractors with critical comments- you're clearly in the minority. Most Israeli religious, formerly religious, (and plenty of irreligious) viewers loved Srugim, and are excited for this new series. Who forced you to watch? If I don't like a TV show, I don't watch it, and I don't feel the need to lambast it, even if a blog I read follows it avidly.

Object all you like, but the dati tv-viewing world has voted, and "Srugim" is an out-and-out hit. And if this first episode is anything to go by, it is good to see that once again the director is unafraid to deal with the complex issues surrounding being young, single and religious in today's society. Looking forward to more.

Friends ran for 10 consecutive years and made everyone involved tons of money (236 episodes). Friends dealt with many social issues and entertained people (worldwide) for well over a decade and was fun to watch.

Srugim is different and won't succeed because not enough people want to watch an uncomfortable group of unattractive crooked tooth 20 somethings in their frumpy clothes hang around their grungy apartments.

Brighten it up, get some attractive entertaining actors and actresses. Repaint and redecorate their apartments. Get them some real clothes and maybe the show will last more then a few episodes.

Jeremy: Srugim's target market is to entertain people worldwide the same way Friends did.

In fact, Friends is a comedy. Srugim isn't. Its a serious show, with comical moments. And people love it here.

I dont see why you find it neccessary to attack the actors -- actually, these actors are in high demand and are far from crooked teeth actors. They do an amazing job of portraying religious singles, despite that they are totally secular in their upbringing.

A few episdoes?

The show has already lasted a full season (with rave reviews), and the second season is already done...and airing.

Maybe you work for YES and are doing this just to get more publicity for them? ;-)

if you dont want to watch with all the ads they've got on walla, you can watch the episode here:http://www.seriesvod.co.il/סרוגים/סרוגים-עונה2פרק1.htmlI came across this site by mistake and it has lots of israeli tv shows, including srugim of course